Swedish PM discusses NATO membership bid with Turkey

Sweden’s new Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson on October 26 spoke by phone with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, as the Nordic country struggles to overcome Ankara’s blocking of its NATO application.

Kristersson described the call as "constructive", adding on Twitter that he was "looking forward to visit Ankara soon," without providing any details.

Erdoğan meanwhile said he would be "happy to welcome Kristersson in Ankara", according to a statement from the Turkish presidency. Türkiye "stands ready to advance the bilateral relations with the Swedish government in all areas", it added in English.

On Wednesday, Kristersson also reiterated that his government would fulfil the "trilateral memorandum," between Sweden, Finland and Türkiye. The memorandum refers to a deal signed by the three states in late June in order for Türkiye to allow the formal invitation process to go forward. The text confirmed that Stockholm and Helsinki consider the PKK to be a terrorist organisation. Under the deal with Türkiye, Sweden and Finland have also agreed to address Ankara’s requests for terror suspects to be deported or extradited.